2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Owner Complaints

While riding my 2009 ultra classic cvc Harley davidson motorcycle the front brake level became stiff and eventually did not compress, no front brakes, while attempting to stop. The rear brake still operated normally. In an emergency, this could cause serious injury or death with front brake failing and possible rear brake failure at same time. a local repair shop inspected the brakes and attempted to bleed system and determined the ABS mudule failed. there were no warning lamp indications of ABS failure. When ABS module fails on HD motorcycles, brakes can also fail. This is a major safety issue with the braking system that shoud still operate to stop motorcycle when ABS module fails.

NHTSA ID

11725017

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

ABS Module failure. Brake pedal solid when depressed with no brakes available. I will request the bad module from the dealer. No brakes is an extremely dangerous condition. The motorcycle is in a Harley Davidson getting the module replaced. This catastrophic failure happened with no warnings or symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11665136

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

The guard/spring housing locater on the rotor behind the drive sprocket developed a fatigue crack, it propagated approximately half way around the circumference before separating and then being pulled thru between the drive chain and sprocket . this caused the drive train to seize up locking up the engine and rear wheel and damaging the engine. being a motorcycle this can lead to a serious injury or death crash. fortunately for me it let go at low speed.

NHTSA ID

11471559

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

When approaching an intersection I went to apply brakes and could not because lever was frozen this resulted in my bike to coast into the intersection I was fortunate the vehicle coming was able to stop.I was told my abs system had failed and would need replaced! The issue was blamed on fluid and lack of flushing and replacement it.The fluid was replaced by dealer 5 months earlier so I’m not buying the fluid is the culprit.Bike has 12,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11441177

Incident

Nov 21, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER COULD NOT BE PRESSED TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON EASTGATE (699 CINCINNATI POTAVIA PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE IN THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000(SERVICE BRAKES) IN JULY OF 2018, BUT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,176.

NHTSA ID

11155634

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

43,176 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO FULLY ENGAGE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH WAR HORSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5331 N US HWY 441, OCALA, FL 34475, 1-(352) 732-2488) AND WAS PROVIDED WITH A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11130210

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

ABS HCU SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME SO HARD IT IS ALMOST UNSQUEEZABLE. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE ON INITIAL IGNITION ON CYCLE. I UNDERSTAND THINGS FAIL BUT FOR ABS TO FAIL IN A WAY TO LOOSE ALL BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING IS REDICULOUS. HOW COULD NHTSA LET HARLEY DAVIDSON BLAME THIS ON FLUID OR CONSUMER? ARE YOU IMPLYING THAT HARLEY TOURING OWNERS OF 2008-11 ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO DIDNT FLUSH BRAKE FLUID? MY FLUID WAS ALWAYS FLUSHED. ITS A DEFECTIVE MODULE. COME ON NHTSA WAKE UP!

NHTSA ID

11091997

Incident

Apr 30, 2018

Mileage

35,000 mi

REAR BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED WITH FOOT. THE HARLEY RECALL ONLY CHANGES THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION IS THE ABS MODULE IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. HARLEY CLAIMS A LACK OF FLUID CHANGE IS THE CAUSE. THIS A COVER UP BY HARLEY TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE ABS MODULES ON THEIR DANGEROUS MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD OF THAT MUST HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED EVERY TWO YEARS ( JUST A COVER UP BY HARLEY) THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD COST LIVES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11089758

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

12,800 mi

WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE BRAKE LEVER FOR FRONT BRAKE THE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND UNABLE TO MOVE. *JS

NHTSA ID

11078519

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

59,720 mi

FRONT BRAKES FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE ON HIGHWAY. BRAKE LEVER IS LOCKED OPEN AND WILL NOT MOVE. LATER THAT DAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED OPEN AGAIN WHILE IN PARKING LOT CAUSING ME TO WRECK INTO CURB AND DAMAGE FRONT FENDER.

NHTSA ID

11074665

Incident

Feb 11, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO "NO BRAKES" . I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2009 HD FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER IN HOUSTON. SO I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. WITHIN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND PERHAPS ONLY 20 MILES THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED. I WENT TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE ON A RECENT SUNNY DAY, AND ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE UNABLE TO STOP. BOTH REAR AND FRONT BRAKES ARE SOLID AND IMMOVABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. RESEARCHING RECALLS, I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT ONLY REQUIRING HARLEY TO FLUSH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. REPAIR IS STILL ON THE OWNER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HARLEY ENGINEERING SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY WHO HAS USED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID WITHOUT SUCH AN ISSUE FOR DECADES. HYGROSCOPIC BRAKE FLUID IS NOT THE ISSUE, ITS THE MATERIAL CHOICE AND POTENTIALLY CATHODIC ISSUES. FOR HARLEY TO BLAME OWNERS FOR NOT FLUSHING THE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS IS SILLY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE BIKE 6 MONTHS. FOR THEM TO RESELL WITHOUT HAVING REPAIRED OR REPLACED THIS IS NEGLIGENT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. NO DOUBT OTHER USED BIKE OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE ALSO AND MORE ACCIDENTS ARE IN THE MAKING. A TOTAL RECALL SHOULD BE DONE AND THE ABS VALVES REPLACED AT HD'S EXPENSE. MANY ON FORUMS ARE NOW BYPASSING THE ABS SYSTEMS TO AVOID THE EXORBITANT REPAIR BILL AND NEED TO GO TO HARLEY. THIS IS PUTTING DANGEROUS BIKES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11073572

Incident

Feb 3, 2018

Mileage

26,520 mi

I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT SLOW OR STOP. THIS HAPPENED AROUND MARCH OF 2017. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO GATEWAY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR REPAIRS. THE SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE A LACK OF MAINTENANCE THE ABS MODULE FAILED. THE REPLACED THE ABS HCU, PART 48343-09 AND I PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS. MY CONCERN IS AN ABS MODULE SHOULD NOT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN AN AUTOMOBILE. THE IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE 2 NEWER HARLEYS WITH ABS. I CALLED HARLEY MANUFACTURING AND WAS TOLD THESE 2 NEWER MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME DESIGN. EVEN WITH MAINTENANCE THESE 2 COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE ABS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE THE DEFECT ABS MODULE THAT WAS REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11072037

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. UPON ACCELERATION AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND FAILED TO ENGAGE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE DEALER (GATEWAY HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 3600 LEMAY FERRY RD, ST LOUIS, MO 63125, (314) 845-9900) DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WAS NOT FOLLOWED REGARDING REPLACING THE FLUID FOR THE BRAKES AND THAT THE SOLUTION WAS A BRAKE FLUSH AT NO CHARGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE AND STILL HAD THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11071704

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

36,000 mi

FUEL PUMP FAILURE: FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPS. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A VEHICLE WHILE ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION IT CAN RESULTS IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11020353

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

6,138 mi

ABS MODULES FAILING. THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC AND HYDRAULIC PORTION OF THE MODULE AND BOTH WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING BAD. BRAKING SUCKS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS YOU ARE LEFT WITH A VERY STIFF BRAKE LEVER AND NO OTHER WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11019811

Incident

Aug 22, 2017

Mileage

5 mi

MY WIFE AND MYSELF WAS RIDING MY 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC IN THE SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST IN CALIFORNIA ON HWY 198 ON JULY 5 2016 WE LEFT THE GENERAL SHERMAN TREE AREA HEADING TOWARDS THREE RIVERS CA AS WE WERE STARTED TO RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ON THE DOWN HILL WINDING ROAD WE LOST THE REAR BRAKE ON THE BIKE, THE BRAKE FOOT PEDDLE WOULD GO ALL THE WAY DOWN UNTIL IT BOTTOMED OUT AND STOPPED IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE, I HAD TO PUMP THE FOOT BRAKE CONTINUOUSLY A FEW TIMES TO GET BRAKE PRESSURE BACK AS SOON AS I STOP PUMPING THE FOOT BRAKE IT WOULD LOSES PRESSURE AGAIN UNTIL I PUMPED IT A FEW TIMES TO GET THE PRESSURE BACK THIS CONDITION CONTINUED FOR A NUMBER OF MILES WHILE WE WENT DOWN THE CANYON, THE FRONT BRAKE WORK NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO USE A COMBINATION OF DOWN SHIFTING THE FRONT BRAKE AND PUMPING THE BACK BRAKE AFTER WE GOT OFF THE MOUNTAIN THE REAR BRAKE WORK NORMAL AND HAS WORKED NORMAL SINCE.

NHTSA ID

10992099

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE EFI/ECM IS FAULTY, CAUSING MULTIPLE CODES DEALING WITH LOW VOLTAGE TO THE THROTTLE BY WIRE, THESE LOW VOLTAGES CAUSES THE THROTTLE TO FAIL DURING RIDING AND LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ISSUE WHICH HAS OCCURED WELL OVER 30 TIMES IN 8 YEARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 USD IN REPAIRS, YET THE DESIGN FLAW CONTINUES TO KEEP CAUSING THE SAME ISSUES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

NHTSA ID

10971524

Incident

Apr 9, 2017

MY MOTORCYCLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN YOUR ODI RESUME INVETIGATION NUMBER PE 16-009. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL FREEZES WHEN THE IGNITION IS INGAGED. I TOOK IT THE THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID IT IS THE ABS MODULE AND IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 10 DAYS UNTIL 3/10/2017. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY MOTORCYCLE INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND ANY FUTURE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $760 FOR THIS FIX.

NHTSA ID

10959640

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

36,000 mi

VERY SERIOUS FAILURE OF ABS FRONT BRAKE. WHEN RIDING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SEIZED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SQUEEZE YIELDING NO FRONT BRAKES. AT THIS DATE NHTSA HAS 88 COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE HD ABS MODULE FAILURE, SOME RESULTING IN CRASHES. HARLEY DAVIDSON SAYS FLUID HAS TO BE CHANGED EVERY 2 YEARS TO PREVENT MOISTURE BUILD UP. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AMONG THE MILLIONS OF ABS VEHICLES IN USE. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT DEMANDED A RECALL OR OWNER NOTIFICATIONS TO BE MAILED OUT. WHEN I OPERATE A VEHICLE I EXPECT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL SAFETY REGULATIONS AND KNOWN PROBLEMS BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE NHTSA. WHERE IS THE SAFETY IN NHTSA WHEN NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS SINCE 2008? DOES IT TAKE A DEATH TO GET A RECALL. IF TWO GM CARS EXPERIENCE A COLUMN LOCK WHILE DRIVING OR IN A JEEP AN OPERATOR ERROR FAILS PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, THERE IS A MASSIVE RECALL AND DEMANDED OWNER NOTIFICATIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND DEMANDS ACTION!

NHTSA ID

10954616

Incident

Feb 11, 2017

Mileage

31,900 mi

"FRONT BRAKE LEVER FROZE WITH NO WARNING WHILE RIDING IT HOME ON THE HIGHWAY ' FORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY REAR BRAKES STILL WORKED FINE, OR I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT."

NHTSA ID

10946153

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

EXITING INTERSTATE FRONT BRAKE LEVER INOPERATIVE. TOTAL LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES AS I APPROACHED INTERSECTION. BACK BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. CONTINUED HOME CHECKED FOR LEAKS, NONE. FLUID FULL. MASTER CYLINDER WORKING, BUT NO FLUID @ CALIPERS. STILL CANNOT DEPRESS BRAKE LEVER. WAS INFORMED MAYBE ABS MODULE HOWEVER STILL SHOULDN'T CAUSE TOTAL FAILURE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10937459

Incident

Dec 23, 2016

Mileage

12,545 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ABS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10924953

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT COMPRESS SO THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAD BACK BRAKES. IT CONTRIBUTED TO A COLLISION WITHOUT INJURIES. I'M TOLD IT IS BECAUSE THE ABS FAILED. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION SO THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE POLICE REPORT. IT SHOULD HAVE FAILED "SAFE" WHICH MEANS THAT THE ABS SHOULD HAVE "SWITCHED OFF" SO THAT THE BRAKES WOULD STILL FUNCTION BUT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. I STILL CANNOT COMPRESS THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10915783

Incident

Sep 8, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE RIDING AND COMMING TO A STOP SIGN REAR BRAKE PEDDEL GOT VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES, STIL HAD FRONT BRAKES. TOOK TO HARLEY SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOISED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TOOK 2.5 WEEKS TO GET THE NEW MODULE IN AS HATRLEY DAVIDSON HAD NONE IN THEIR SYSTEM. WHAT BOTHERE ME THE MOST IS THAT WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE BOUGTH THE BIKES WITH ABS THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE BABS UNIT WE WOULD HAVE REGULAR BRAKES WITCH WAS NOT TRUE AS I HAD NO REAR BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

10915518

Incident

Sep 17, 2016

Mileage

103,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HANDLES AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. A REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER AND PERFORMED AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,796. UPDATED 12/21/16*LJ THE DEALER REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 12/27/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10910145

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

16,796 mi